Why do we cherry-pick our scriptural condemnations?

Having recently graduated from Yale Divinity School, I can say that
my childhood community’s approach to gay rights—though well
intentioned—is riddled with self-serving double standards.

I don’t doubt that the one New Testament
author who wrote on the subject of male-male intercourse thought it a
sin. In Romans 1, the only passage in the Bible where a reason is
explicitly given for opposing same-sex relations, the Apostle Paul calls
them “unnatural.”

Problem is, Paul’s only other moral argument from nature is the
following: “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long
hair, it is degrading to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her
glory?” (1 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Few Christians would answer that question with a “yes.”

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7 Comments

Oh, this poor innocent guy. LOTS of Christians would answer that question with a "yes," because they're so freaking scared of anything that bucks "traditional" gender roles and rules, including long hair on men. I wish I could say that I didn't know this from direct experience, but I do.

Your headline alone should be a siren call to any bible believer that they should examine their belief system.

Why are there different denominations? Why are there scriptural arguments in the first place? it's the WORD OF GOD, for christ's sake! Why do some muslims "cherry pick" verses to justify mass murder? Why are some Jews orthodox and some reformed and some in between? Why are there more than one set of kosher laws?

On and on. The answer is simple: Because ALL this stuff is the stuff of imaginitive men. Argumentative imaginitive men.

The headline to this story asks, "Why do we cherry-pick our scriptural condemnations?"

The answer is obviously simple. Because it suits the purpose of the one selecting the verse. I would even say that it suits the cultural bias of the selector.

@Sharon, Education is not dangerous. It is enlightening. Education is not anti-religion, but the educated ask for facts and proof which is something that religions have in short supply. Education is no more anti-Christian than it is anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, or anti-Atheist.

Also your use of the word liberal is just dripping with contempt for those who hold a different worldview than yourself. I am a liberal and I only wish the best for you and your family.

@Sharon and Susan: See what happens when you just drop in every once in awhile? You miss so much of the conversation. I am sorry for not hanging around long enough to get to know the regular crowd. I really like the topics discussed here. Too many blogs, too little time.

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Why a religion/faith/spirituality blog? Even in a secularized culture, even for people who profess no religious affiliation, theology has a way of insinuating itself into the conversation... read more